Construction Starts at Solar Power Project in Basra

The Iraqi Prime Minister has laid the foundation stone for the Shams Al-Basra solar power station, a landmark renewable energy project in Basra with a total generation capacity of 1,000 megawatts.

Speaking at the inauguration, Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani highlighted the strategic importance of the project in supporting Iraq's power generation capacity and advancing the country's clean energy goals. He pledged full government support to ensure its timely completion.

The solar project forms part of a broader agreement between Iraq's Ministry of Oil and French energy giant TotalEnergies. It will be built over 9,000 dunams [900 hectares; 2,224 acres] of land and comprise 2 million solar panels divided into four units, each generating 250 MW. The facility will also include:

A 132 kV transmission network spanning 180 km;
A newly built 132 kV substation;
Upgrades to two existing ministry-owned secondary substations.

The first 250 MW unit is scheduled to come online by the end of this year.

Under the contract, TotalEnergies will operate and maintain the plant for 25 years.

The project is expected to deliver environmental benefits by reducing air pollution, lowering reliance on fossil fuels, and cutting carbon emissions. It will supply power to three secondary substations across the region.